Accordian key holder



y 1950 E. H. TERLINDE 2,514,978

ACCORDIAN KEY HOLDER Filed May 20, 1944 EMF. 7W

Jnventor attorney Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES "PATENT F Fl CE 2,514,978 sAccoRmoN KEY HOISDER .,Edward Terlindast. Paul, Minn. Application May] 20, 1944, Serial N0. 536,477

l Qla im My invention relates toanimprovement in accordions wherein it is desired to provide an accordion which is'simplein construction and in operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an accordion with keys having a' piano action.

By the term piano actionf'l refer to an arrangement in whichthe exposed .portions'of. the keys are located at some distance from the pivotal support thereohsothat .the .keys may berreadily operated by a .downwardz:pressures'anywhere throughoutthe length of the-exposed portions of the keys. As aresult thekeyboard is moreeasily operated.

A further feature of. the; present inventionrlies in anovel means of mountingv the individualvkeys.

It has been common practice to .pivotallysupport the keys upon awtransverse :pivot .extending through the .keys. atoneendthereoi. idlhe .keys

of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the key board end of an accordion showing the manner in which the keys are mounted thereupon.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a key mounting showing one means of mounting the keys.

Figure 3 is a modified form of key mounting from that illustrated in Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is another modified form of key mounting from that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The accordion A includes a bellows connected at one end to the base sound chamber or wind box and having its other end connected to the key board sound chamber or wind box. It is with this key board sound chamber end that the particular application is involved.

The keys I3 and I4 are supported as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. A bar I6 extends transversely of the sound chamber, as illustrated in Figure 1 and is terminally supported by the end panels I5. This bar I6 is provided with notches I'I therein. These notches I! receive spring fingers I9 having parallel flanges 20 and v 2I extending-therefrom. A screw or bolt 22 se- ..::curesthe spring strip I9 tothe end of the key. I3

or I4; thefiange's 20. and 2| preventing lateral spring-fingers. I9 and anchor these fingers to the 'bar I6.

It will be noted that the spring fingers I9 tend to hold thekeys elevated and in proper position. However, no pivotal connection is provided and as a. result no transverse movement of the keys is permitted.

In Figure 3 of the drawings I disclose a connection' of a modified form of construction. The spring finger 24 illustrated in Figure 3 is provided with anaperture 25 for reception of a bolt. 23

.; toisecure the finger 24 tothe bar I 6. The spring 24 is provided with converging flanges 26 which engage in suitable wedge shaped notches 2 I in the ends of the keys 29. Thus a dove tail connection between the key and the spring 24 is provided which has the advantages of the construction shown in Figure 2, but requires no bolt or screw 22. The key is engaged frictionally by the spring finger, or may be held in any suitable way.

If an adjustment between the spring finger and the corresponding key is desired, the construction shown in Figure 4 may be used. The spring finger 30 is provided with an aperture 3| therein to accommodate the bolt 23. Opposed flanges 32 and 33 are provided on the finger to overlie opposite sides of the key 34. A pivot 35 extends through the flanges 32 and 33 and through the key to permit limited pivotal movement between the spring finger and the key. Pivotal movement of the key 34 about the pivot 35 is limited by the head of the screw 36.

A slot 31 is provided in the spring finger 30 for accommodation of a screw 36. By adjustment of the screw 36 the space between the slotted end of the finger 36 and the key may be regulated to provide a desired adjustment.

Each of the keys I3 and I4 is supported by fiat spring means I9 secured at 22 to the key and secured at 23 to a supporting bar I6. Thus the keys may flex downwardly, but at the same time can not move laterally.

An apertured chamber wall is provided beneath the keys I3 and I 4 so as to form a base for the keys. Suitable grills permit the sound to readily leave the sound chamber.

It will be noted that with the valve construction illustrated in the accordion B, the valves move normally to the surface of the valve plate so that all of the apertures therein are closed simultaneously by any of the valves. Furthermore all of the valves are opened an equal distance, thereby permitting an equal amount of air to pass through each passage of the reed blocks.

In the usual type of accordion it is common practice to have the reed blocks extend into the bellows, as the bellows structure is of some thickness, even when collapsed. In order to shorten the total length of the accordion, it will be noted that a portion of the sound chamber extends into the bellows and that the extreme ends of the bellows are inset somewhat from the wall base panel of the sound chamber. This applies both 'to the accordion construction, A -and the structure B.

In accordance withthe patent statutes, 1 have -said keys to project from an end thereof, said flat spring means being of substantially equal width to said notches,- and being engaged in said notches to hold said keys in parallel'r'elationship.

' 2. A key mounting foruse in combination with keys including a key support, flat spring means connected to said-support and projecting therefrom, .means securing said keys to the project- 4 ing ends of said spring means, and shoulder means on said support for engaging opposite side edges of said spring means to hold said keys in parallel relationship.

3. A key support including flat spring means having a channel shaped end designed to embrace a key end and to prevent relative rotation thereof, means adjustably connecting said channelshaped end to a key, and a support to which saidjLflat spring means is secured.

" 4. A key support including a key supporting member, a series of fiat springs connected to said supporting member in parallel relationship, a

V, channelshaped projecting end on said flat spring,

pivot means connecting the sides of said channel shaped end to a key, and adjusting means extending throughthe base of the channel and adjustably holding said key in adjusted relation thereto.

EDWARD H. TERLINDE.

I REFERENCES CITED The following-references are of record in the file of this patent:

.Stahl Sept. 29, 

